Basketball Rules & Terms

Basketball rules are put in place to help make competition fair for every player. In order to help players understand the rules, certain terms are used to define violations, penalties and fouls. These terms also help officials communicate with players, coaches, scorekeepers and fans what it going on during the course of a basketball game.

Violation

A violation is failure by a player or team to follow a rule. Violations are almost always penalized by awarding the ball to the opposing team out of bounds nearest to the spot where the violation occurred. A team may accumulate any number of violations during the game without additional penalties.

Travel

According to the rules of basketball, players with the ball are permitted to take one step in any direction before or after dribbling the ball. This is done by using a "pivot foot," which must remain on the ground. If the player lifts his pivot foot and then returns it to the ground, it is called a travel, and is a violation.

Double Dribble

A player may not dribble the ball, end his dribble, and then dribble again before passing or shooting the ball. A double dribble is also a violation.

Personal Foul

A personal foul is physical contact with an opponent, which causes an advantage for the player causing the foul or a disadvantage for the player being fouled. Personal fouls are counted toward a player's total foul count. In most leagues, five personal fouls disqualifies a player. In the NBA, it takes six fouls for a player to be disqualified. On shooting fouls, a fouled player is awarded two or three shots, depending on the location of the foul. On common fouls (not shooting), the team is awarded the ball out of bounds closest to the spot where the foul occurred, unless the fouled team is in the bonus, in which case it is awarded one foul shot and, if made, another. If in the double bonus, the team is awarded two foul shots.

Blocking Foul

A blocking foul is one in which a defensive player uses her body to impede the progress of an offensive player.

Handcheck

A handcheck is a personal foul in which a defensive player uses his hands or arms to impede the progress of an offensive player.

Charge

A charge is a personal offensive foul in which the player with the ball makes excessive contact with a defensive player in legal guarding position. No free throws are awarded for offensive fouls, even if the fouled team is in the bonus or double bonus.

References

• National Collegiate Athletic Association: Basketball Rules
• National Basketball Association: Rules